In light of the standards set during a year of phenomenal Para triathlon racing, it seemed almost churlish to hope for even more at the World Triathlon Para Championships. Nevertheless, the women’s races more than delivered across six fascinating events, applying the finishing touches to a season that will not be forgotten anytime soon. A wave-swept sea swim opened the races ahead of a long run to transition. Thereafter the athletes completed four laps on the bike and two on the run to complete the sprint distance triathlon.
PTWC – Gretsch back on top
After winning Paralympic gold in Paris, Lauren Parker H1 (AUS) had taken a well-earned break before turning her attention to Torremolinos. There were no signs of any holiday rust in the opening discipline as she led into T1. Eva María Moral Pedrero H1 (ESP) enjoyed a better transition and took the lead before Jessica Ferreira H1 (BRA) vaulted herself to the front on the bike. Parker passed Moral while the Tokyo Paralympic champion, Kendall Gretsch H2 (USA), also made progress through the field (having started behind as a H2 athlete) and slotted into the top-3.
Fereira and Parker drew level on the bike and raced neck-and-neck. However, Gretsch was charging from behind and prompted yet another change of lead as she was the first into T2. Fereira exited transition 12 seconds back while Parker was a further 2 seconds behind. However, Parker, the Paris Paralympic champion, did not quite have the same devastating burst of speed as normal on the run. At the end of the first run lap of two, Gretsch led Fereira by 13 seconds while Parker had leaked time and faced an almighty challenge to overturn the 44 second gap to the leader. Fereira fought tooth and nail and could even see Gretsch as they arrived on the blue carpet, but did not quite have the final surge to pass the American. Parker then completed the podium.
The victorious Gretsch noted after her race, “I just knew I didn’t have my best race in Paris so this was a race for myself. There was so much work that went into Paris so I just wanted to have a race that reflected all the work that went into it. I’m so happy with today’s race and I feel like this was my best race.”
PTVI – Rodriguez shows her class
Leticia Freitas B1 (BRA) was the pick of the women’s PTVI bunch in the swim and led Paralympic champion Susana Rodriguez B1 (ESP) by 19 seconds. The defending world champion Francesca Tarantello B3 (ITA) was over 2 minutes back heading into transition. As a B3 athlete, though, she started after her B1 rivals, which accounted for her deficit.
Rodriguez moved into the lead through T1 and then developed her advantage throughout the bike. After winning gold medals at the Paralympic Games and European Championships, she was determined to complete the triple. A head-start of 1min 51sec into T2 certainly set her up perfectly to realise her objective. Further back, Freitas had to contend with an advancing Tarantello in the race for silver and the Italian athlete made her move on the second run lap. The day, however, belonged to Rodriguez as she cruised to victory on home soil ahead of Tarantello and Freitas.
PTS5 – Norman triumphs in women’s clash of the day
Before the PTS5 race, the world title discussion had centred on the Paralympic medallists. Claire Cashmore (GBR), Grace Norman (USA) and Lauren Steadman (GBR) would emerge from the water in that order as they distanced the rest of the field over the swim. The British duo had the advantage through T1 and Cashmore then established a 16 second lead over her compatriot by the first bike split.
Never one to throw in the towel, Norman clawed her way back. She would then claim the lead in the second half of the bike. Steadman, the Tokyo Paralympic champion, hovered over half a minute back over the Paris gold medallist. With a lap to go, Norman had extended advantage over Steadman to 49 seconds but Cashmore remained only 5 seconds behind. Soon after, though, Norman slammed the door on her rival by setting a ferocious pace on the run.
The American athlete held a 27 second gap by midway and her lead only grew from there. Cashmore was the next athlete home while Steadman took the bronze medal.
“It’s been a challenging year but I’ve grown a lot as a person and as an athlete. A win is a win and I’m proud of it,” said Norman in the aftermath. “It’s my fifth world title but each one has its own journey with it and it’s still a delightful feeling to cross in 1st.”
PTS4 – Frances too good in tense finale
Megan Richter was a surprise last-minute absence in the PTS4 race after claiming the European and Paralympic titles in recent weeks. Marta Francés Gómez (ESP) took advantage of the situation to the delight of the home crowd as she bossed the swim. Camille Seneclauze (FRA) chased however by the end of the first bike lap Francés led by 30 seconds.
Elke Van Engelen (GER) and Sally Pilbeam (AUS) were locked in the battle for bronze as Seneclauze whittled down the lead. Once onto the run, the French athlete found a new gear and drew ever closer to her Spanish rival. With a lap to go, the gap stood at a mere 4 seconds. Seneclauze could almost reach out and grab Francés. But then Francés hit back.
In a tense final lap, she summoned a decisive final burst of energy to win by 11 seconds. Pilbeam then won the race for bronze.
PTS3 – Marc makes it three in a row
Elise Marc (FRA) sought a third consecutive world title in the PTS3 class and she delivered with minimal fuss in a consummate performance. Sanne Koopman (NED) moved into the lead out of T1 but Marc overtook her and built an insurmountable lead on the bike. The minutes ticked by and so too did Marc’s lead. Her eventual margin of victory exceeded 10 minutes in a wonderful display.
Afterwards, the thrilled Marc dedicated her victory to her long-time coach ahead of her upcoming switch. Koopman managed to seal the silver medal while Liina Nuoranne (FIN) rounded out the podium in 3rd place.
PTS2 – Seely cruises to dominant win
In a similar fashion to Elise Marc, Alyssa Seely (USA) dominated the women’s PTS2 race. She led the swim and did not look back from there. At the first bike split, the gap to her nearest chaser, Emma Juaisca Rodriguez Rodriguez (VEN), already stood at 3min 30sec. By the last lap, Seely had added over 50 more seconds to her lead.
Once the run started, the American athlete could afford to enjoy her moment in the Andalucian sun as she secured the world title. “It’s been a pretty fun year so I’m glad to finish it on top,” she later said. “The past two years have had more challenges than I’ve wanted to have. But I’m proud of the way I’ve conducted myself and never given up.”
Rodriguez then crossed to take the silver medal and Yukako Hata (JPN) won the bronze.
